Thing #9 -Online Image Generators

Image created on:  http://www.signgenerator.org/warning/signs.asp




Image created on:  http://www.glitterizer.com/


Using these online image generators was super easy and fun to create.  Although there were many to choose from, I used the two links above.  Basically, you just choose the basic sign layout or background.  Then, type in the words you want to use for your sign.  Click the generator to create and adjust colors, faces, or backgrounds to your liking.  To post these on my blog, I simply downloaded them to my computer. Then, I created an account on Flickr to host my images.  From there I copied the html code to add them to my blog.

These would be fun to print and hang in your classrooms!  These online generators allow you to create signs that are personalized specifically for your use.  I also think students would love to create signs for their own bedrooms at home as well.  Here is the link to create your own:  http://www.customsigngenerator.com/   Warning:  There are lots to choose from!!!

Thing #8 - More Flickr Mashups

Image above created by Spell with Flickr

Thing #8 - More Flickr Mashups

Image above created by Spell with Flickr

Thing #8 - Flickr Mashups

This is a photo I took for my Multimedia Creation class this past summer.  While taking pictures of flowers, this butterfly landed on the porch railing.  I took several shots trying to get a good one before it flew away.  Thankfully at least two of the shots did turn out crisp and clear.

Creating jigsaw puzzles using a photo was super easy using the following website:
http://bighugelabs.com/jigsaw.php
In my classroom, I think students would love bringing in their own photos to create something like this.  I also think it might be fun to create a puzzle of the entire class and order one for the classroom.  The students could work at putting the puzzles back together during free time or indoor recess when the weather keeps us from going outside to play.

 I don't mind putting pictures such as this, or pictures of pets, landscapes, and so forth on the internet. I have added a few family pictures to my website and blog.  However, I am still a little hesitant doing it.  :)

Thing #7 - Explore Flickr

Photo Source:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/morganpetroski/2536074/#

Image Citation: 

Morgpet.  "Happy Guy."  December 25, 2004.  Retrieved Sept. 29, 2010 from http://www.flickr.com/photos/morganpetroski/2536074/#

I absolutely love dogs, well any pets really!  Isn't this little guy just adorable!! While exploring Flickr, I searched for tags containing yorkie.  I also wanted to find a photo with the Creative Commons (CC) tag as well.  It was very easy to search using these tags.  I found thousands of pictures.  At first, however, before I realized they were sorted by copyrighted ones and CC ones, I found a picture of a beautiful porcelin light switch cover that had pink roses and yorkies on it.  Now I want to look for a cover like this for my pink bedroom!!  However, I couldn't add it to my blog since it was copyrighted.  It appears that Flickr would be a great source for classroom visuals.  These could be used on worksheets, lesson presentations, and so forth.  Students really like seeing visuals any time I have used them in my PowerPoint lessons.  I also think visuals help students remember the material much better.  Flickr is definitely something I will use in the future to brighten up my lessons and classroom activities.

I obviously have to add a photo of my precious Chloe here too.  This was taken in Feb. 2010 when she was only 4 months old.   She will have her first birthday in October.

Thing #6 - Discovering & exploring Web 2.0 tools

I love Google Calendar!  I have found that it is a great way to communicate with parents regarding classroom assignments and daily schedules.  I was able to create our classroom schedule for the entire school year and embed this into my classroom website.  Then, as you click on each daily subject, that day's lesson/assignment pops up.  If you need to make changes, you just log into Google Calendar, make the changes, publish it, and then it all shows up on your website page.  It does have many other useful features.  One includes sending you email reminders of upcoming events or adding schedule pop-ups to your page.  I think the entire school could use it to post lunch menus, upcoming school-wide activities, and so forth.  After using it for the first couple months of school, one of the only drawbacks for my purposes is the fact that if you are not careful you could erase a subject for the entire year from your classroom calendar.  Thus, erasing any plans you might have already taught or any future ones you have already created in advance.  If there is a way, I haven't figured out how to retrieve something I accidentally removed.

Google Calendar

I have also utilized Google Docs in my graduate classes.  It provides a great way to collaborate on assignments or projects.  All you do is share the document with the people you will be collaborating with.  You can decide who will be editors or just readers.  If there are more than two people, each person can choose a different text color for their input.  Then, when the assignment is finalized, the text color can be changed to one color.  The only thing I disliked about the tool was it takes a little time for each person's ideas or changes to be visible to the group.  I think that it would work better if you were able to hear add voice to it in realtime.  If you can, I haven't figured it out yet!

Google Docs

The other two tools I have played with a little are Skype (only used once) and Picasa.  Skype reminds me of one of the technological tools dreamed up in the cartoon show The Jetsons.  It was really neat to be able to see the person and talk to them at the same time.  Since I have only used this tool once, I still have a lot to learn.  One feature that I really thought was neat was the ability to show the person you are talking to your computer screen.  I could see exactly what was on the other person's screen and see their mouse movements.  I would like to explore this tool more to learn more about exactly what features I like and dislike.  However, I don't know very many people who utilize Skype.  Picasa was very easy to use and upload pictures to.  I liked how you are able to resize very easily, do touchups, and create effects.  It is definitely a tool that I hope to explore even more.  When I think of using either of these in schools, I think they offer a lot of potential.  As I have stated in a previous post, I would love for my class to Skype another class and collaborate on some project or standard together.  Picasa might be a great way to share pictures of classroom activities without posting these for the world to see.  If I am correct, I think you could share picture files only with certain people.  However, on these two tools, I still have lot to learn and explore!

Skype
Picasa

Thing #5 - "School 2.0"

When I think of School 2.0, I think of schools using Web 2.0 tools to enhance daily lessons in the classrooms.  Web 2.0 tools include tools like blogs, wikis, social networking, management tools, interactive games, collaboration, and etc.  Since the students we teach were all born into a digital world, courtesy of the internet, they are much different than the students we were.  They are used to "multi-tasking" at a much earlier age.  This also means that they get bored much easier and have a much shorter attention span.  I think that it is necessary for us to utilize this technology to best of our ability in order to provide the best education possible.  Not only will these interactive activities engage more learners, it will help prepare them to be a better, technology-savvy workforce.  Just the collaboration tools alone can foster team work, as well as provide students with necessary feedback in regards to their work.

When discussing School 2.0, I think (hope) schools of the future will offer the possibility of greater differentiated instruction.  I would like for those students who have the ability to move forward at their own pace to be able to utilize one of these tools to enrich their learning.  While at the same time, those who need more practice and instruction could continue with another tool/activity that better suits their needs.  School 2.0 often makes me think of the cartoon of my generation called The Jetsons.  That cartoon was one of my favorites!!  I have been waiting for all those technologies to become a reality.  When you stop and think about it, most of them have.  Although I realize children need to socialize with other children, I think online education could work for them as well.  I personally love taking online classes!  You can work on them anytime, anywhere.  For me personally, learning online is so enjoyable.  I am able to communicate & collaborate with others who are miles away.  Not long ago, I co-wrote a paper using Google Docs with classmates I have never met in person.  How cool is that!!  I would love for my students to be able to experience that.  I would even love for my class to Skype another class and share ideas about the standards they are currently learning.
 
However, School 2.0 does currently face obstacles in the classrooms, or at least in my elementary classroom.  Currently, our school blocks things like Skype, as well as several others.  I realize there are possible problems that could arise from giving students access to everything.  Perhaps there is not a perfect filter.  However, I just wish that it was easier to access and use more of these wonderful tools with our students.  In the end, it would benefit everyone.  Students would be better educated to become part of the workforce of tomorrow.  I have tried to advocate using several of these tools, but I have been unsuccessful.  I would love to know of elementary schools who are able to use things like Skype, wikis, and so forth and exactly how and why your school doesn't block these.

Thing #4 - Commenting

I have been working on this blog mainly for my graduate classes.  However, after reading other, very insightful blogs about the importance of not only reading, but commenting on other blogs, I have a whole new appreciation for blogging.  Even in face to face classes, I was never one to speak up very much.  So for me, I enjoy reading the thoughts of others more than I like adding in my own two cents worth.  I now realize blogging offers everyone the opportunity to share something important and insightful.  This feature enables people from around the world to interact, share ideas, and spawn discussions you might have never thought of on your own.  Even though we may be miles and miles apart, blogging offers its own sense of community.  This community just happens to be online.
 
In the readings, specifically the Cool Cat Teacher Blog, it was suggested to "Beware of Darth Commenter".  To me, this is a very important point.  When you blog, you are exposing your thoughts, feelings, and opinions for the whole world to see.  Obviously, since we are all different, you're bound to encounter someone who totally disagrees with you.  Like I often tell my students, we can agree to disagree!  Having our own opinions and ideas makes our world a more colorful place.  Otherwise, wouldn't this be a boring world?  However, for some of us that are still new to blogging, abrasive and disrespectful comments left behind might influence some of us to stop blogging all together.  Even the Bible mentions about how powerful our tongue can be.  Words can definitely build up or tear down a person!
 
Secondly, I never thought about commenting actually drawing others to your blog.  I suppose I never was really concerned with whether or not anyone commented on my blog.  I mainly did it for my own purposes.  However, by doing it this way, I left out all the collaboration that could have been possible.  Sharing comments shows you what you have to say is important!

Comments left:

1.  So far I have left comments for Cool Cat Teacher regarding How to comment like a king (or queen!).  I really liked the last statement made in the post.  It really spoke to me.  Here is the statement I am refering to: 

"If you died today and don't share "your secret," it will die with you and you will miss the chance to leave behind something far more important... a legacy."  Posted by Cool Cat Teacher

In my comment, I gave the example of how the first cameras gave us a small glimpse into the lives of our ancestors.  Without these first cameras we would have never known how some of our ancestors looked, dressed, lived, and etc. All that information would have died with them. I suppose we can think of today's technology as a means to leave our own imprint on this Earth!

2.  In my second comment, I commented on using YouTube in the classroom on Brittany Adams' blog.  I agreed with her that it is hard to use videos that are appropriate when the site is blocked at school anyway.

3.  The third comment I made was to Jamie Foote's blog on her SlideBoom presentation.  I thought she did a great presentation for teaching prepositions!

4.  My 4th comment was on Vickie Moreland's blog Thing #18.  We agree on the topic of teachers not using FaceBook and MySpace.  Niether of us could see a use for it in the classroom.

5.  My 5th comment was on Amanda Ezell's blog Thing #9.  She shared a cool picture she created of herself and her brother on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine.  I think she came up with a great idea of letting the students create their own for a writing assignment.  Since 5th graders take the state writitng assessment each year, an activity like this might definitely spark some interest and encourage practice.

6.  Finally, I posted a comment on Rebecca Austin's Thing # 12.  I shared my use of Google Calendar and how I absolutely love it.

7.  For my 7th comment, I decided to comment on the Pioneer Woman blog.  I found her blog very interesting.  The pic of Charlie, the basset hound, was absolutely adorable.  I think that it would be exciting to live on a ranch.  My husband has a cousin who lived and worked on a ranch at one time.  After his dad died, he and his wife moved back to his parents farm in South Dakota.  While visiting there a few years ago, it was really neat watching them herd the cattle from one section of the farm to another.  It was a beautiful evening scene.  We should have taken pictures as I look back. 
More to come.....

Thing #3 - Classroom Blogging ideas

I have used my blog in several of my graduate classes to demonstrate what I have learned and to share ideas and activities with my classmates. In my own classroom, I have shared my blog with my students. Some of my students even decided to go home and create their own blog with the help of their parents. Blogs are a great way to communicate and share ideas and activities with classmates, colleagues, students, and parents. A teacher could use it to communicate with parents, share excellent examples of your students' work, or share practice activities with both students and parents. However, I generally use my own class website to do these things, including providing a calendar of classroom plans/homework assignments, links to Math resources, and Reading/Language Arts resources.  I also have links to the school calendar and the district website.  Students and parents can send me messages using a comment box as well.  When these comments are submitted, they are sent straight to my email inbox.  Although I don't include any class photos, I would certainly love to.  However, our school is pretty strict about using pictures of our students online.  If nothing else, I would love to let them create technology projects that could be displayed online for parents and visitors to see.  I think both students and parents would love to see their pictures and activities online.

Thing #2 - Setting up blog, creating avatar, & posting

When I created my blog, I wanted a blog name that was easy to remember. Using alliteration was an easy way to do this. Originally, creating the blog was a little difficult at first. However, now it is very easy to add posts whenever I want. Creating the avatar was fun! I tried to create an avatar that looks somewhat like me. I love wearing pink and my dogs are my best friends, next to my husband of course!

Thing #1 - Lifelong Learning

The life long learning habit that I think is the easiest for me is setting goals. When I think about the hardest is is a tie between viewing problems as challenges (or learning opportunities) and, believe it or not, play! Sometimes with working full time and trying to go back to graduate school, I leave out the "play" in my life. These are things like taking time to exercise, get in the tanning bed (and I even have one), spending time with friends and my pets, etc.

I would like to find Web 2.0 tools that would help lessen my load instead of adding something else to it. As far as setting up this blog, I have had it for a while already. When I first created it, it took some figuring out because I had never created anything like it before. However, once I did it, it is like second nature now.